Vehicle direction control with a crosswise fan

ABSTRACT

A directional control system for a land, water or airborne vehicle is provided by thrust generated by a selectively actuatable motor coupled to a propeller to produce thrust laterally and cause rotation of the vehicle about its vertical axis. Such thrust, coupled with forward motion of the vehicle will provide directional control left or right, depending upon the direction of rotation of the thrust producing propeller. Controls for operation of the motor driving the thrust producing propeller may be effected by a conventional radio control transmitter and receiver.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application relates to subject matter described inand claims priority to a provisional application entitled “VehicleDirection Control With A Crosswise Fan”, assigned Serial No.______ andassigned a filing date of______ and describing an invention made by thepresent inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the field of radio controlled models, whether land vehicles,water vehicles (watercraft) or airborne vehicles (aircraft), directionalcontrol about the yaw or vertical axis has been provided by a rudder,steerable wheels and a rudder, respectively. To effect such control,numerous linkages, whether rigid rods or cables, have been employed.Such rods or cables further require coupling devices to interconnect therod/cable with a motive device, such as a servo (servo mechanism) toactuate movement and further coupling devices to connect the rod/cablewith the element to be moved that provides a control function. Thesedevices require numerous parts and careful adjustment, which increasesthe costs and requires a skill level of installation generally beyondthat of children. Moreover, any repairs that may be required due to amishap of the attendant vehicle are generally beyond the capability of achild.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Yaw control of a vehicle about its vertical axis is provided byan electric motor turning a propeller to produce thrust in a generallyhorizontal plane. The thrust will exert a force upon the vehicle to urgerotation of the vehicle about its vertical axis. Coupled with forwardmotion of the vehicle, the vehicle will turn; depending upon whether thethrust is ahead of or behind the vertical axis of the vehicle, thedirection of turning will be opposite to or commensurate with the forceof the thrust produced. The control system requires a simple batteryoperated transmitter transmitting a signal to a receiver in the vehicle,which signal operates a switch to provide electric power to an electricmotor that turns a propeller or fan. Additionally, a further controlsignal transmitted by the transmitter to the receiver may actuate areversing switch to reverse the direction of rotation of the electricmotor, whereby the direction of thrust produced by the propeller/fan maybe reversed. Coupled with forward motion of the vehicle, directionalcontrol is obtained without complicated linkages or moving controlsurfaces.

[0004] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention toprovide a simple radio controlled apparatus for controlling thedirection of travel of a vehicle.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiocontrolled system for a vehicle embodying an electric motor andpropeller to provide directional control.

[0006] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a radiocontrolled control system requiring no linkages or pivoting surfaces fordirectional control.

[0007] Still another object of the present invention is to provide apropeller driven by a motor for directional control of the vehicle.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiocontrolled directional control for a toy vehicle.

[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide amethod for directional control of a toy vehicle.

[0010] A still further object of the present invention is to provide amethod for controlling the direction of movement of a toy vehicle bycontrolling the operation of a motor operated propeller to producelateral thrust.

[0011] These and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be described with greater specificityand clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1A illustrates a transmitter for transmitting a controlsignal;

[0014]FIG. 1B illustrates a radio receiver coupled to an electric motorfor turning a propeller;

[0015]FIG. 2 illustrates a land vehicle incorporating the presentinvention;

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates a waterborne vehicle or watercraftincorporating the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 4 illustrates an airborne vehicle or aircraft incorporatingthe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring jointly to FIGS. 1A and 2B, a radio controlled systemfor providing directional control to a vehicle will be described. Aconventional radio control transmitter 10 may have one or more channelsfor providing control signals. A control stick 12 provides controlsignals by moving the stick left, right, up, down or rotatably.Alternatively, the control stick may be replaced by push buttons, awheel or similar elements for manipulation by a user, as is well known.The transmitter includes an antenna 14 for radiating a carrier conveyinga signal 16 containing control information. Necessarily, a power supply,usually in the form of batteries, it is housed within the transmitter. Areceiver 20 is mounted on or within the vehicle to be controlled. Itincludes an antenna 22 for receiving a signal 24 transmitted bytransmitter 10. The received signal is decoded within receiver 20 byconventional circuitry to segregate the control signal from the carrier.The control signal is impressed upon an electrical conductor 26 coupledto an electric motor 28.

[0019] Control systems of this type are well known in the field of radiocontrol of models of various types. The control signal energizeselectric motor 28 and also determines the direction of rotation of theelectric motor. The electric motor includes an output shaft 30supporting a propeller 32 or fan. Rotation of shaft 30 in response toactuation of motor 28 will rotate the propeller in one direction or theother. The resulting rotation of the propeller will provide thrust inone direction or the other, depending upon the direction of rotation ofthe propeller. As is conventional, a power supply 34, which may be abattery or a bundle of batteries, is coupled to receiver 20 through anelectrical conductor 36 to provide power to the receiver. An on-offswitch 38 may be disposed in conductor 36 or may be otherwise coupledwith receiver 20 through an electrical conductor 40, as is conventional.

[0020] In summary, movement of control stick 12 in transmitter 10 willgenerate and transmit a signal 16 imposed upon a carrier at a frequencyspecified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The carrierand the signal imposed thereon, is received by receiver 20. Throughdecoding, a control signal is conveyed via electrical conductor 26 tomotor 28. Depending upon the control signal, the motor will be caused torotate in one direction or the other. Such rotation will result inrotation of propeller 32 in a commensurate direction to produce thrust.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a wheeled land vehicle50 having a body 52 supported upon a plurality of wheels, such as threewheels 54, 56 and 58 as shown. One or more of these wheels may becoupled with an electric motor or other motive means mounted in vehicle50 may be used to provide forward motion. An electric motor 28 ismounted at the rear end of vehicle 50 through a brace 60 or the like. Apropeller 32 is supported upon a shaft extending from motor 28. Uponactuation of motor 28, propeller 32 will rotate to produce thrust in onedirection or the other. The location of electric motor 28 is at adistance from the vertical axis of the vehicle. Thereby, the forcegenerated by the thrust produced by propeller 32 will urge the rear endof the vehicle to move in a direction opposite to the thrust produced.Such urging will cause the vehicle to rotate about its vertical axis andresult in a change in direction of the vehicle when the vehicle isunderway. By reversing the direction of rotation of propeller 36, thevehicle will be urged to turn in the opposite direction. It is to beunderstood that receiver 20 and the components associated therewith aremounted on or within vehicle 50.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 3 there is illustrated a waterborne vehicle orwatercraft 60, which in this case is a sailboat. However, it may also bea motorboat, hydrofoil, etc., as is conventional. The sailboat includesa hull 62, keel 64 and possibly a rudder 66. Forward motion of thesailboat is provided by a sail 68 supported by a mast 70 and a boom 72.Thereby, in the presence of a breeze, the sailboat will move forwardlyas a result of the wind acting upon sail 68, as is conventional. Anelectric motor 28 is mounted upon a pedestal 74 at stem 76 of thesailboat; it is to be understood that the motor may also be mounted atbow 78 of the sailboat.

[0023] Electric motor 28 includes a shaft 30 supporting a propeller 32.On actuation of the motor, the propeller will turn and produce thrust.The force of the thrust will act upon stern 76 to urge movement of thestern in one direction or the other. As the stern is urged to movelaterally, coupled with forward motion of sailboat 60, the direction oftravel of the sailboat will change. By reversing the rotation of shaft30, the direction of the thrust produced by propeller 32 will bereversed, resulting in the stern being urged to move laterally in theopposite direction. Such movement of the stern, coupled with forwardmotion of the sailboat, will cause the sailboat to move in the otherdirection. It is to be understood that receiver 20 and its componentsmay be mounted within or upon hull 62 to provide power and control toelectric motor 28.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 4 there is illustrated an airborne vehicle oraircraft 80 in the form of a powered airplane 82. The airplane includesa body 84 supporting a wing 86, horizontal stabilizer 88, and a verticalstabilizer 90. If the airplane is a powered airplane, it may include apropeller 92 actuated by a motor (not shown) to provide thrust to urgeairplane 82 forwardly. It is to be understood that the airplane may alsobe a glider in which event propeller 92 and its motor would be absent.Furthermore, the airborne vehicle could be a lighter than air vehiclehaving motive means for providing forward motion.

[0025] An electric motor 28 may be supported from a bracket 94 extendingfrom the vertical stabilizer. The vertical stabilizer may include acircular opening 96 commensurate in diameter with the length ofpropeller 32 coupled to motor 28 through shaft 30. Thereby, thepropeller may rotate in a plane essentially commensurate with the planeof the vertical stabilizer. Upon actuation of motor 28, propeller 32will be caused to rotate in one direction or the other. Such rotationwill produce thrust and the thrust will urge the tail of the airplane tomove in the opposite direction. Upon forward motion of the airplanethrough the air, the thrust produced by propeller 36 will urge the tailto swing left or right about the vertical axis of the airplane. Theresulting movement of the tail of the airplane will cause a change indirection of flight of the airplane. By reversing the rotation of motor28, the thrust produced by the propeller will be in the oppositedirection and the aircraft will turn and travel in the oppositedirection. Thereby, directional control of the airplane is provided. Itis to be understood that receiver 20 and its components may be mountedin or upon body 84 of the airplane.

[0026] In summary, a land, water or airborne vehicle having receiver 20,its components, and motor 28 driving propeller 32 mounted therein, willhave its direction of travel controlled by an operator manipulatingcontrol stick 12 of transmitter 10.

[0027] With respect to airborne vehicle 80, which is free to operate inthree axis, the axis of rotation of shaft 30, and hence the direction ofthe thrust produced by propeller 32 may be at an angle other thenhorizontal to compensate for the P-factor (precession) due to the motorrotating propeller 92 to provide forward motion. Furthermore, dependingupon the decalage, dihedral and moments attendant the aircraft, thethrust of propeller 32 providing directional control may be other thanin the horizontal plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofthe aircraft in order to provide an acrobatic capability.

I claim:
 1. Radio controlled apparatus for controlling the direction oftravel of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising in combination: a) atransmitter for transmitting a control signal; b) a receiver forreceiving the control signal; c) an electric motor being responsive tosaid receiver for turning a propeller to create thrust; and d) amounting for said motor on said vehicle, said mounting being adapted toorient the thrust to act about the vertical axis of said vehicle.
 2. Aradio controlled apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a powersupply for said vehicle to energize said receiver and said motor.
 3. Aradio controlled apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidtransmitter includes a control for controlling the direction of rotationof said motor.
 4. A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said vehicle is a land vehicle and wherein said propeller isrotatably mounted at the rear of said vehicle.
 5. A radio controlledapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a waterbornevehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the stern ofsaid vehicle.
 6. A radio controlled apparatus as set forth in claim 1wherein said vehicle is an airborne vehicle and wherein said propelleris rotatably mounted at the tail of said vehicle.
 7. A radio controlledapparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said vehicle includes avertical stabilizer having an opening therein and wherein said propelleris rotatably mounted within said opening.
 8. A radio controlledapparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said propeller comprises afan.
 9. A forwardly movable vehicle having a vertical axis and includinga radio control receiver responsive to an operator operated radiocontrol transmitter, said vehicle comprising in combination: a) anelectric motor operatively responsive to the receiver; b) a propellerrotatably responsive to said electric motor for producing thrust; and c)a mounting for said electric motor adapted to orient the direction ofthe thrust produced by said propeller about the vertical axis of saidvehicle to urge rotation of said vehicle about the vertical axis of saidvehicle.
 10. A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in claim 9 whereinsaid vehicle is a land vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatablymounted at the rear of said vehicle.
 11. A forwardly movable vehicle asset forth in claim 9 wherein said vehicle is a waterborne vehicle andwherein said propeller is rotatably mounted at the stem of said vehicle.12. A forwardly movable vehicle as set forth in claim 9 wherein saidvehicle is an airborne vehicle and wherein said propeller is rotatablymounted at the tail of said vehicle.
 13. A forwardly movable vehicle asset forth in claim 9 wherein said vehicle includes a vertical stabilizerhaving an opening therein and wherein said propeller is rotatablymounted within said opening.
 14. A forwardly movable vehicle as setforth in claim 9 wherein said propeller comprises a fan.
 15. A methodfor controlling the direction of travel of a forwardly moving vehiclehaving vertical, longitudinal and lateral axes, said method comprisingthe steps of: a) transmitting a control signal from a radio controltransmitter; b) receiving the control signal with a radio controlreceiver located at the vehicle; c) conveying the control signal to anelectric motor to cause rotation of a shaft of the electric motor; andd) producing thrust about the vertical axis of the vehicle with apropeller operatively responsive to rotation of the shaft of theelectric motor to urge the vehicle to rotate about its vertical axis.16. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the vehicle is a landvehicle and wherein said step of producing is carried out at the rear ofthe vehicle.
 17. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the vehicleis a watercraft and wherein said step of producing is carried out at thestem of the watercraft.
 18. The method as set forth in claim 15 whereinsaid vehicle is an aircraft and wherein said step of producing iscarried out at the tail of the aircraft.
 19. The method as set forth inclaim 18 wherein the aircraft includes a vertical stabilizer having ahole therein and wherein said step of producing is carried out withinthe hole.
 20. The method as set forth in claim 15 wherein said step ofproducing provides thrust about the vertical axis and about the lateralaxis of the aircraft.